The Seduction of Sebastian St. James (House of Renwick #2)(9)

“For what reason?” Emma turned back as he approached her.

“It isn’t at all proper for a lady to go about without a chaperone? I daresay you’ve been in the country far too long, Miss Gates.”

Emma grinned. “Oh, I see. You’re frightened to be alone with me.”

He cursed in answer then ran a hand through his hair. “I am a man.”

“I see, and were you confused about your sex before our little talk?”

Emma shocked herself with her bluntness.

Sebastian turned away laughing. “As amusing as you might be, I have a care for your reputation.”

“Don’t.” Emma fought to keep her voice even as she met Tempest’s calculating gaze. “I assure you, I’m not a debutante out to seduce you, nor will my reputation be in question, your grace.” Difficult for a reputation to be in jeopardy when it’s already been destroyed. “Now, would you rather discuss chaperones and propriety or go for a ride?”

Emma fought the desire to look away as Sebastian’s piercing eyes continued to question her as if trying to figure out what had brought on her answer. Finally he shook his head and held out his hand.

The air stilled as she put her hand in his. Warm lips caressed her knuckles sending a thrill down to her toes, “A ride through the park, of course.”

“Good, I’ll just be a minute then.”





Chapter Three


Sebastian paced in the entryway, trying his best to look casual as he heard footsteps tap lightly across the marble staircase.

With each step his fist seemed to get tighter and tighter. As if the person’s footsteps had a direct connection with the tension he felt all over his body.

He was still perplexed at her offhand comment concerning reputations. Didn’t every girl worry about reputations? And why wasn’t Nicholas yelling at him for taking the girl out on her first day in London? It wasn’t necessarily frowned upon to take a lady for a jaunt in the park during the fashionable time of the afternoon. But he wasn’t so ignorant to believe that tongues wouldn’t be wagging after they were seen together. Self preservation told him it would be best to attach himself to Miss Gates in a brotherly way. After all, they were staying at the same house, which was cause enough for scandal. But if he could attain that they were as close as cousins, well then, there should be no problems for either of them in the near future.

It both bothered and intrigued him how easily he had fallen to her little challenge. But it wasn’t a crime to want to spend more time with her. Surely all the marriage talk wasn’t affecting his normally sound mind when it came to passing the hours with women? And even he was self-assured enough to know he wasn’t falling for a woman he barely knew merely because she challenged him at every step. The female race as a whole was provoking. It was their curse and a man’s burden.

He stole another glance to where Miss Gates had disappeared; would she be such a burden? His mind treacherously replayed images of her smile, her almost violet eyes, and beautifully adorned hair. The odd color seemed almost unreal—long velvet locks with shots of read framed her face.

Swallowing the lust that was building inside, he tried to think of anything but the way her mouth curved mischievously when she was verbally sparring with him, or how she bit her plump bottom lip when she seemed to be thinking of an intelligent answer to a question. Groaning he briefly contemplated canceling the trip, considering his body was already responding to the thoughts of her lips and the way she would look beneath—

Cursing, he didn’t finish the thought.

One thing he was sure of, Miss Emma Gates was trouble.

Plain and simple.

Where did Nicholas keep his whiskey again?

“Are the horses ready?” came a chipper voice behind him.

Turning he braced himself for what he knew would be a devastating blow to his already frayed wits. He held out his arm to escort her to the waiting horses.

“Ah, Miss Gates, I was beginning to wonder if you had backed out of our little jaunt to the park.”

Taking his arm, she rolled her eyes. “Sir, I never back down from a challenge.”

“Oddly, I don’t find that hard to believe. Shall we?”

She inclined her head. Waltzing—or what looked like waltzing—in the direction of her horse, she let out another shot of laughter, making Sebastian all the more uncomfortable with her brilliant idea. Why was it that every movement she made gave him the impression she was dancing? Or gliding? It appeared her grace was more than natural. Every action, even that of getting onto her horse, spoke of a deep-rooted sensuality and grace.

Two characteristics many women of his acquaintance lacked.

What did she possess that set her so far beyond those he knew?

He shrugged off the wandering thought and mounted his horse. Naturally the people of the ton were going to go mad with delight when they saw him with a woman in the park. They would surely wonder who this comely creature was. He could only hope they didn’t take imagination too far and assume her to be another one of his mistresses. The poor girl didn’t need that type of reputation, if she was to be launched into society this year.

“Your grace!” Belverd exclaimed, as they entered the park on horseback. Turning, he acknowledged the man who had shouted and looked to his right where Miss Gates had been waiting. Her eyes taunted and twinkled—